The high-profile tennis romance between Spain's Paula Badosa and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas is officially over, confirmed by Badosa herself during her 28th birthday celebrations in Dubai.
The Birthday Confirmation
Badosa left little room for speculation as she marked her birthday with friends, proudly holding up a sash that unequivocally declared her new relationship status: 'Sexy and single'. The former world No. 2 shared multiple posts from her Dubai celebrations, where she is currently recuperating from a long-term back injury that ended her season in September.
Her social media captions reflected a positive outlook, writing 'Chapter 28, here we go. Heart full…Thank you to the ones who made it so special. Love you'. The festivities included a cake bearing the message 'older, wiser and still hotter than ever' and another sash proclaiming '28 and still a 10'.
A Rollercoaster Relationship
The couple, affectionately dubbed 'Tsitsidosa' by fans, first went public with their relationship in 2023, quickly capturing the tennis world's attention with their heart-warming social media posts. Their journey however was marked by turbulence.
In May 2024, the pair broke up 'amicably' only to reunite just three weeks later, reigniting fan interest. Rumours of another split emerged during Wimbledon in July, after both players suffered first-round exits. The speculation gained traction when they unfollowed each other on Instagram and began removing photos and videos of each other from their social media accounts.
Tsitsipas separately confirmed the split during an encounter with Greek media at an airport. When questioned about his relationship status, he responded directly: 'At the moment I'm single, so I don't know what you're talking about. Thank you very much.'
Professional Pressures and Future Plans
Insiders speaking to Spanish magazine ¡Hola! in July revealed that the separation had been 'peaceful' but both were 'shattered'. The demands of their elite tennis careers, particularly ongoing injury struggles, were cited as significant factors.
'[They] were going through a rough patch professionally, with injuries, and that affected their relationship,' a source told the outlet, emphasising it was 'a healthy breakup' with 'no third parties or family influences'.
The couple had previously been open about marriage plans after reuniting in May. They had intended to compete in the revamped mixed doubles event at the US Open, but Tsitsipas withdrew and Badosa subsequently pulled out due to injury.
Badosa has been focusing on her recovery in Dubai, recently sharing a poignant message about healing and self-discovery on social media. She is targeting a return to professional tennis in 2026.
